Special
Education Services

Providing services for all
students

The Gloversville Enlarged
School District is responsible for providing special education services to
all resident students who qualify for such supports. These services are
coordinated by the district's Committee on Special
Education.

GESD Special Education Philosophy

The Gloversville Enlarged School District is
committed to the following principles for special education services and
programs.

• We provide special education services that meet the individual needs
of the child, are developmentally appropriate and strength-based. These
services are planned in collaboration with all the child-serving systems
involved in the child's life and are provided in a supportive learning
environment.

• We recognize that the child’s family is the primary support system for
the child and participates in all stages of the decision-making and
planning process.

• We will bring special education expertise to the student in the
general education learning environment to the greatest extent possible.

• All special education instruction will be based on the New York State
learning standards.

• Student data will be used to inform and improve instruction.

• Related services provided to special education students will be
educationally relevant, evidence-based and will support the student’s
learning. These services will be provided to the student in a manner
that is least disruptive to the child’s learning.

• Special education is a service not a placement.

Committee on Special Education/Committee
on Preschool Special Education

The Committee on Special
Education/Committee on Preschool Special Education (CSE/CPSE) is sanctioned and regulated by New York State. It acts
as a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate the management, academic,
physical and social needs of the referred child and determines if there
is an educational disability. The CSE/CPSE must then decide on an appropriate
program or placement for the student and the need for related services
(i.e. occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy,
counseling, etc.) if necessary.

IEP Plan

The Committees must develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for all
students who are eligible for special education services. In developing
the IEP, the committee considers evaluations, student strengths,
concerns of the parent and, where appropriate, student performance on
state and district assessments. An IEP documents the following: present
level of performance; how the student’s disability impacts his/her
participation in the general curriculum; classification of the
disability; annual goals; recommended programs and services; whether or
not the student will participate in state or alternate assessments; a
list of any alternative accommodations; a list of any assistive
technology devices; and transitional goals at the appropriate time.

GESD Special Education Plan
2013-2015 and Annual Report

The Gloversville Enlarged School
District Special Education Plan 2013-2015 and Annual Report is available
for viewing.
Click here to download the document.

December 2011 Rights for Parents of Children
with Disabilities, Ages 3-21

As a parent, you are a vital member of the Committee
on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Preschool Special Education
(CPSE) in New York State. The CSE/CPSE is responsible for developing
recommendations for special education programs and services for your
child. You must be given opportunities to participate in the CSE/CPSE
discussion and decision-making process about your child’s needs for
special education. The following information concerns procedural
safeguards that are your legal rights under federal and State laws to be
informed about and involved in the special education process and to make
sure that your child receives a free appropriate public education
(FAPE). Click
here to view the document.